Cloud Seeding in Southern California

A Disability & Climate Justice Issue

If you live in Southern California, you may have heard about cloud seeding, a weather modification technique currently being used in Orange County to encourage rainfall. This process involves dispersing silver iodide (a known toxin) and acetone (also toxic) into the atmosphere. While the intention is to increase precipitation, these substances inevitably end up in the air we breathe, our drinking water, and our soil — raising serious concerns about public health and environmental safety.

For those of us with autoimmune conditions, respiratory illnesses, or chemical sensitivities, the implications are alarming. Our bodies are already burdened by environmental toxins, and adding more pollutants into the mix only exacerbates the issue. This isn’t just an environmental concern — it’s a disability justice issue.

Climate Change and Disability: An Overlooked Intersection

Policies like these rarely, if ever, take into account disabled and chronically ill communities: the largest minority group in the world. Climate change and industrial pollution disproportionately impact our health, yet decision-makers often fail to consider us in policy discussions.

Some key examples of this overlap:

💔 Wildfire smoke & air pollution ➡️Those with asthma, COPD, or autoimmune disorders face heightened health risks, yet clean air initiatives remain underfunded.

💔 Extreme heat ➡️ Many disabled people rely on medications that make them more sensitive to heat, yet affordable and environmentally friendly cooling solutions are lacking.

💔 Hurricanes & climate disasters ➡️ Evacuation plans often fail to consider mobility needs, leaving disabled people stranded. This also includes wildfires, as we have seen recently in Los Angeles.

💔 Toxic chemicals in water & food ➡️ The EPA continues to allow corporations to pollute for profit, increasing the toxic load on vulnerable populations.

If you’re disabled or chronically ill, you’ve probably already noticed: our environments are making us sicker. And yet, the industries responsible continue to prioritize short-term profits over long-term health.

Cloud Seeding: A Band-Aid Solution That Ignores Root Causes

The justification for cloud seeding is tied to California’s ongoing drought and wildfire risk. But is spraying more chemicals into the air really the best solution? There are alternatives that work with nature, rather than against it.

💭 Reintroducing shepherding ➡️ In some areas, goats and sheep are being used to clear dry brush, naturally reducing wildfire risk.

💭 Controlled burns ➡️ Indigenous fire management practices have successfully prevented megafires for centuries, yet policymakers continue to resist their widespread adoption.

💭 Restoring watersheds ➡️ Instead of forcing artificial rain, we could focus on wetland restoration and soil regeneration to naturally retain more water (we also know this practice naturally increases soil health, making our produce more nutrient-dense and bioavailable).

The reality is, we created climate change. We can’t fix it by adding more chemicals into the system. Solutions already exist — we just need to fund and implement them.

This Is Why Local Elections Matter

Policies like cloud seeding don’t happen in a vacuum. They are directly tied to local and state politics — which means we have the power to change them. Yet, voter turnout for local elections remains low.

Many of these environmental policies are pushed forward without considering long-term health consequences or the impact on historically excluded communities. The only way to shift this is through advocacy, education, and showing up at the ballot box.

If you haven’t already:

➡️ Research your local representatives’ stance on environmental health.

➡️ Advocate for climate policies that protect vulnerable populations.

➡️ Vote in local and state elections: this is where many environmental decisions are made. And when you vote, consider those more vulnerable who could be affected by your choices.

This Isn’t Intended to Fear-Monger: It’s Intended to Spread Awareness

Discussions around environmental toxins often get dismissed as alarmist or conspiracy-based. But let’s be clear: this is about science, policy, and human health.

We already live in an environment where our bodies are struggling to detoxify at the rate pollution is being introduced. If we want a healthier future, we need structural changes — not just individual solutions like air purifiers (though if you don’t have one yet, it’s a good investment).

So, is cloud seeding an urgent concern? Yes. But more importantly, it’s a symptom of a larger issue: a system that prioritizes short-term solutions and corporate profit over public health. (Ahem, capitalism.)

The next time someone asks, “Why does disability advocacy include climate justice?” — show them this. Because clean air, safe water, and a livable planet are accessibility issues.

Let’s start acting like it. And demanding it.